Coast Guard and good samaritans rescue 4 boaters in Lake Erie

CLEVELAND — Four boaters are safe after a Marblehead, Ohio, Coast Guard boatcrew and other nearby boaters rescued them in Lake Erie when their recreational boat capsized near Lakeside, Ohio, Thursday morning.

The three men and one woman reported their 20-foot boat began taking water over the stern before it capsized, sending all four of them in the water at about 8:40 a.m., near the Lakeside Association dock in Lakeside, Ohio.

A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Marblehead was already prepared to get underway on one of the station’s 33-foot Special Purpose Craft–Law Enforcement boats when it was notified of the accident, and it arrived on scene within five minutes.

Two nearby boaters recovered three of the people, and the Coast Guard boatcrew recovered the fourth person. All four people were transported to Mazurik state boat ramp where they were met by awaiting emergency medical technicians and evaluated and released with no reported injuries.

The four boaters rescued were: three men, ages 18, 49 and 58; and a woman, 52. All four boaters are from Mansfield, Ohio.

At this time, the names of the individuals who were rescued are not being released. It is Coast Guard policy that, at the conclusion of an active response, releasing the names of people searched for, or rescued, constitutes an unauthorized disclosure of personally-identifiable information.

The good samaritans, who initially reported the accident to the Coast Guard, have been identified as five men from the Ohio towns of Upper Sandusky, McCutchenville, Nevada and Sycamore.

“We’re extremely grateful for the assistance provided by the boaters who rescued three of the people,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Peters, the coxswain of the SPC-LE. It was the nearby boaters, as a matter of fact, who contacted the Coast Guard to report the accident, he said.

“Although the Coast Guard always appreciates when local mariners assist those they see in need of assistance,” said Lt. Justin Westmiller, Coast Guard Sector Detroit public affairs officer, “it’s important that they don’t place themselves in harm’s way in the process. If you are a witness to a boating accident, always ensure the Coast Guard is notified before you render assistance.”

“Even though the air temperature has warmed significantly over the past week, the water is still cold, so the good samaritans’ swift response got the boaters out of harm’s way quickly,” said Peters.

The weather was reported to be 2-foot waves, about 17-mph winds, and 68-degree water.

Two of the men and the woman were wearing life jackets. The other man was reportedly not wearing a life jacket.

The Coast Guard recommends that all boaters wear lifejackets at all times while underway. More information on the importance of wearing lifejackets is available here.

A local salvage company recovered the vessel and brought it to the company’s facility.